STAND. COM. REP. NO. 881

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 984

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 984, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reestablish an interagency working group to discuss and create a comprehensive plan for the transfer of all personnel and functions of the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Department of Education with regard to neighbor island public schools.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committee finds that this measure provides a framework for continued discussions of the requirements of Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, which among other things, transferred certain functions from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Department of Education.  Although the implementation of most of the requirements occurred nearly ten years ago, issues continue to arise, including how to accommodate the needs of neighbor island schools so that service levels are consistent statewide.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a requirement that the interagency working group submit a report to the Legislature in 2017;

     (2)  Changing the date the interagency working group will dissolve from June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2017;

     (3)  Requiring that the 2016 report include an implementation plan;

     (4)  Requiring that the actual transfer of personnel and functions be completed by July 1, 2017;

     (5)  Adding an appropriation for fiscal year 2016-2017; and

     (6)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, style, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 984, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 984, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair